Campus Connections: Prospects discuss Giants ties

Here is what some of the other draft prospects with Giants connections said about their former teammates.

Oregon LB Jeffrey Bassa (2021-24) –> OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (2019-21)

“KT was a guy who was real hard on me, coaching me, making sure that I was crossing all my T’s and dotting all my I’s,” Bassa said. “I remember a conversation, he was telling me about pass rush. The key to it was get-off. I remember we were sitting down after practice one day and he was just walking through a young freshman, a young linebacker who got thrown into the linebacker room, and taking that right step to be a great linebacker. For him to be hard on me at an early stage, but then the relationship we have to this day, I appreciate him a lot.”

One word to describe Thibodeaux: “Unique. The reason why would have to be when it comes to his football game, he’s a great pass rusher but then also a guy who can stop the run and a guy who’s a physical force playing defensive end. But then as well, off the field, a guy who has a great personality. A great personality and I love that kid.”

SMU DT Elijah Roberts (2023-24) –> DT Elijah Chatman (2019-23)

“E-Chat was great,” Roberts told Giants.com. “He’s definitely wired a little different. He’s a guy that since I got there, not one day I saw him take off, whether it was a workout, a practice. He was kind of the glue for us my first year there. There were a lot of new guys like me, Jordan Miller, a lot of guys who transferred in who had to step into a bigger role. Chatman there was the glue, he was kind of the guy that kept it all together on the field, off the field. E-Chat’s great. Then as you guys can see, he was able to go into the league and do even better things. He’s a great dude, for sure.”

One word to describe Chatman: “Explosive”

Oregon DL Jordan Burch (2023-24) –> DT Casey Rogers (2022-23)

“Casey was hilarious,” Burch stated. “He was my roommate for hotels, too. He was just crazy but he always lightened the mood. Anytime somebody was down or feeling a little nervous, Casey was the guy you go to.”

One word to describe Rogers: “Energetic”

Toledo DT Darius Alexander (2019-24) –> ILB Dyontae Johnson (2018-22)

“It was great,” Alexander said about his experience playing with Johnson. “It was wonderful. That’s a guy I learned a lot of things from. We just built off each other and just talked a lot of ball.”

One word to describe Johnson: “Different”